Matchday 12 may well go down in PL history for the debut of the FA’s retrospective panel on simulation, following Oumar Niasse’s successful deception of Anthony Taylor at Selhurst Park, a unanimous verdict and ban.

With its simultaneous announcement of Matchday 13 and 14 appointments the FA let Bobby Madley recover from injury in League One, while rewarding Chris Kavanagh for his patience with a trip to SJP.

Returning to the story of the week, “I will be shocked [if I am charged with diving] because there is contact,” said Niasse post-match, apparently oblivious to the concept that contact and no penalty can potentially go together just as well as a dive and no appearance bonus for two games…

The reaction of Scott Dann, who conceded the penalty, on the day? “He has conned the referee. I don’t like to see people getting punished, but also I don’t like people diving to win penalties. [Niasse] probably knows he has conned them. I haven’t tried to tackle him; he has gone past me and you can see on the replays he has dived.”

For David Moyes’s first home game as West Ham boss he welcomes the former Monaco, Lille, Lyon, Nice and Southampton coach to the London Stadium. As Moyes attempts to be the first Scot to so much as earn a point there, Claude Puel arrives for this Friday night clash between 18th and 12th having won 3-0 last season with his previous club.

All you need to know about Martin Atkinson:
Matches in 2017/18: 7 (4 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 1
Yellows: 16 Reds: 1

Jose Fonte may have been denied a reunion with Leicester’s not-quite deadline signing, Portugal team-mate Adrien Silva, but Leicester’s Austrians, Aleksandar Dragovic and Christian Fuchs will hope to check on the progress of Marko Arnautovic’s thumb injury and Daniel Amartey can catch Andre Ayew up on all things Ghanaian.

The first time the clubs met was in Division Two in November, 1919, the result 0-0. The following season it was 1-0 to Leicester at Upton Park in October, 1920, thanks to Ernest Clifford Price’s goal.
The last meeting was in March, ending 2-3 thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini, Ayew, Riyad Mahrez, Robert Huth and Jamie Vardy. Referee Roger East only cautioned Danny Drinkwater.

Martin Atkinson has Jon Moss as back-up six days after the Hawthorns, when the latter presided over the swansong of Tony Pulis. Atkinson presided over a relatively incident-free affair at Turf Moor the same day.

It’s 97 years since these two first met, in Division Two in December, 1921, with Palace running out 5-1 winners.

All you need to know about Mike Dean:
Matches in 2017/18: 9 (6 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 6
Yellows: 33 Reds: 1

Last time was only in February, when a Joe Allen goal proved decisive in Stoke’s win and Martin Atkinson cautioned Ryan Shawcross, Damien Delaney, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon.
It’s Macron versus Macron as the only two Premier League clubs with kit supplied by the Italian manufacturer go head to head, Macron having first supplied Bologna in 2001. Their best known English association remains with Bolton Wanderers, however, whose stadium naming rights were sold to Macron in July 2014, replacing Reebok.

Mike Dean, after taking a derby last week at the other end of the Premier League table, has 20th versus 15th on his plate this. Today’s fixture also features two former international managers, and Dean retired at what was the mandatory age of 45 from FIFA’s international list in 2013.

There have only been 16 fixtures in all between these clubs, and two of those came within a week at Wembley in 1983. Despite captain Steve Foster returning from suspension for the FA Cup Final replay and the lucky shoes of relegated Brighton manager Jimmy Melia, a 2-2 thriller on the Saturday was followed by a 4-0 walkover on the Thursday.

All you need to know about Neil Swarbrick:
Matches in 2017/18: 8 (4 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 7
Yellows: 20 Reds: 0

The very first was also in the FA Cup: round one, back in January, 1909, which United won 1-0 with a Harold Halse goal at Bank Street, Clayton. It was not until Brighton clinched promotion to Division One that the sides met again, however, in October, 1979. Lou Macari and Steve Coppell scored the goals in a 2-0 win.

Andy Ritchie and Mickey Thomas both travelled south to play for the Seagulls shortly after, having worn the red of United, and had a proposed deal to swap international team-mates Ashley Grimes and Mark Lawrenson not fallen through, the number of players to represent both clubs would duly have increased by two more.

David Beckham made his debut in the League Cup at the Goldstone Ground and Norman Whiteside did likewise at Albion’s former home in Division One in April, 1982, a good 10 years earlier.

Andrei Kanchelskis briefly trained with Brighton when Coppell was Brighton boss, yet nothing was to come of this flirtation between former Old Trafford right-wingers.

Another Andre, fourth official Marriner, was the man in the middle in Braga on Europa Cup duty in midweek, supported by assistants Stephen Child and Lee Betts, with additional assistants Bobby Madley and Kevin Friend and his own fourth official, Ian Hussin. Neil Swarbrick will take charge of a fixture pitting second place against ninth as United look to extend their run to 39 unbeaten at home in all competitions.

Bill McGarry and Glenn Roeder managed both these clubs, while John Barnes, George Reilly, Malcolm Allen, Glyn Hodges and Daryl Janmaat, who is still at Vicarage Road, have all pulled on both shirts.

As the Ashes have arrived to distract many a football fan, Mark Ramprakash and Mike Gatting were on the Hornets’ books as schoolboys, while fellow former England Test cricketer Steve Harmison played for and managed Ashington in the Ebac Northern League Division One as well as having trained periodically with the Magpies, the team for whom he professes undying love.

All you need to know about Chris Kavanagh:
Matches in 2017/18: 2 (0 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 7
Yellows: 7 Reds: 0

The first encounter between Newcastle and Watford came in February, 1932. It was an FA Cup tie won 5-0 on Newcastle’s way to eventually winning the trophy, and featured a hat-trick from Jack Allen, an Englishman outnumbered by Scots in the home dressing room.

The Hornets recorded a 2-0 away win in a March, 1980 Division Two clash, and the last meeting between the clubs was won by Watford, too.

With the visitors led by Quique Sanchez Flores, the current manager of La Liga’s RCD Espanyol, Odion Ighalo scored twice in 2015, while Jack Colback, Almen Abdi and Etienne Caboue were cautioned by Roger East.

Cult Hornets figure Neil Redfearn scored with Watford’s first touch of the ball by scoring from a free kick which extended 1989’s FA Cup marathon between the sides, eventually won by a Glenn Roeder own goal. As Roeder was wearing stripes, it was Watford who progressed.

This meeting of 11th and 8th is only Chris Kavanagh’s third Premier League appointment in the middle this season, and he has Stuart Burt and Anthony Taylor returning from Belgium in support, with the latter taking his turn holding the electronic board.

Two English coaches whose curricula vitae could hardly be more contrasting meet in what could yet turn out to be a proverbial six-pointer, although the visitors’ Eddie Howe appears to enjoy by far the greater level of job security.

All you need to know about Stuart Attwell:
Matches in 2017/18: 4 (0 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 6
Yellows: 15 Reds: 1

The first time the clubs met was in Division Three on Boxing Day, 1924, with the monikers significantly different. Swansea Town beat Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic 1-0 on that occasion, and the last meeting came last New Years Eve.

The Cherries left with all three points to add to Swansea caretaker Alan Curtis’s headaches thanks to a goal apiece from Benik Afobe, Ryan Fraser and Josh King, while referee Kevin Friend cautioned Jordi Amat and Ki Sung-Yeung.

Assistant Adam Nunn was in Belgium with Stuart Attwell on Wednesday, who was Anthony Taylor’s fourth official. Attwell takes this Premier League basement battle with Graham Scott patrolling the technical area a week after he let Vincent Kompany off with a yellow card for halting Jamie Vardy’s progress at the Kingpower Stadium.

Martin Jol will be casting an even more interested eye over this game than might usually be the case, given the visitors’ search for a new occupant for their dug-out.
Garth Crooks, Ruel Fox, Freddie Cox, Steve Walford, Gerry Armstrong and Graham Roberts have all played for both teams, while Spurs player Vic Buckingham went on to manage West Brom as well as continental giants Ajax, Barcelona and Olympiakos.

All you need to know about Mike Jones:
Matches in 2017/18: 5 (1 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 8
Yellows: 18 Reds: 0

Legendary World Cup winner, Spurs player and manager Ossie Ardiles, managed the Baggies to promotion in 1993 before heading back to White Hart Lane.

This is match number 144 in the history of meetings between the clubs, but the first at Wembley. Their first ever meeting came in the FA Cup in April, 1901, and ended in a 4-0 Spurs win. Their first league encounter was eight years later, when the Baggies took revenge to the tune of 3-1.

The sides last met in January, when a Harry Kane hat-trick and Gareth McAuley own goal on his 200th West Brom appearance left the scoreline at 4-0. Anthony Taylor also cautioned McAuley and Jonas Olsson that day.

He may have ended up on the losing side, but Christian Eriksen managed to run over 13km last weekend at the Emirates, following a demanding midweek engagement in Dublin. This time he, like his team-mates, must get a trip to Dortmund out of his system if he is to put in a similar shift.

This is Mike Jones’s 199th Premier League match in charge, having commenced with Hull City versus Wigan Athletic in 2008.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six Anfield visits as they roll up for a late Saturday kick-off for the cameras pitting 5th against 3rd place.

This is the 178th meeting, the last three of which have ended 1-1 on Merseyside. The first meeting was a Division One fixture won 4-1 by Chelsea on Christmas Day, 1907.

The last was in January, with honours even and Luiz and Wijnaldum scoring. Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Willian were cautioned by Mark Clattenburg.

All you need to know about Michael Oliver:
Matches in 2017/18: 10 (7 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 2
Yellows: 42 Reds: 2

A so-called ‘ghost goal’ after just four minutes by Luis Garcia and given by referee Lubos Michel stands out for many from five separate seasons of Champions League clashes. It came in the first of the series at Anfield, a semi-final 2nd leg, an issue still not put to bed despite Chelsea finally winning the Champions League in 2012. Joe Cole played that night for Chelsea before making the switch to play in red, and Liverpool went on to win the European Cup for a fifth time three weeks later.

Steve Clarke was assistant to Kenny Dalglish and Jose Mourinho at either club, while they also share Rafa Benitez, albeit as a successful interim appointment at Stamford Bridge. Bobby Campbell, once a Liverpool player, was Chelsea manager from March 1988 to May 1991.

Assistant Gary Beswick was in Belgium with fourth official Craig Pawson as Anthony Taylor refereed Anderlecht versus Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Michael Oliver returns to the middle having held the board for Mike Jones at Anfield last week.

Morgan Schneiderlin and Cuco Martina return to their old stomping ground for this Sunday lunchtime kick-off pitting 14th against 16th in the Premier League.
Current managers Mauricio Pelligrino and David Unsworth roughly shared a defensive position in their playing days, but that’s as far as it went, with the cultured Argentinian very much providing a vivid contrast in styles with the man they called Rhino.

All you need to know about Kevin Friend:
Matches in 2017/18: 6 (0 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 10
Yellows: 15 Reds: 0

Barry Horne and Ronald Koeman are two more names to have been feted at both clubs, one as a player and the other as a manager, while Southampton have kept 13 clean sheets against Everton so far in the Premier League… three more than any other side the Saints have faced.

The first time the sides ever met was in the FA Cup in 1900. Southampton won that one 3-0 and in fact all five of their first meetings were in the same competition before Saints won the first league battle 2-1 in Division Two. Two goals from Arthur Wilson were sufficient while Everton’s reply came from the truly legendary Dixie Dean.

Last season Charlie Austin’s first-minute goal proved to be the winner and Craig Pawson booked visitors Ashley Williams and Romelu Lukaku.

Kevin Friend returns to the middle having served as fourth official twice last weekend and acted as Andre Marriner’s AAR in Braga on Thursday.

Connections are thin on the ground, despite this being one of the grand, old fixtures of English football. Alas, there appears to be no family tie between current Burnley defender Ben and former Arsenal double-winning manager Bertie Mee, who passed away in 2001.

The first Turf Moor encounter ended in a 6-1 FA Cup win for Burnley in February, 1896, while the last saw Craig Pawson keep a ‘clean sheet’ with no cautions in October, 2016. Laurent Koscielny scored a late winner to give Arsenal a 1-0 away win.

All you need to know about Lee Mason:
Matches in 2017/18: 7 (1 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 7
Yellows: 14 Reds: 1

The unbridled excitement of Burnley’s top-flight return in 1975/76, with Arsenal their first opponents, did nothing for the resulting 0-0 draw. Ray Hankin was in that Burnley side and managed five Arsenal games in 1981, while former Clarets keeper Gerry Peyton held the position of the Gunners’ coach in that department from July, 2003 until this summer.

Lee Mason did not enjoy his best night on the south coast on Monday and at least has only the short trip from Bolton to negotiate this weekend. This clash between 7th and 6th place is his 232nd Premier League game in charge, all told.

This late Sunday afternoon kick-off marks the 77th meeting between Town and City. The very first was won by visitors City in November, 1920, while the last league meeting in Yorkshire was February, 2000 at the McAlpine, in Division One.

That ended 1-1 thanks to Clyde Wijnhard’s opener and Shaun Goater’s equaliser, while the last meeting in any competition came in the FA Cup this March, when City clinched a quarter-final slot with a 5-1 win at the Etihad.

All you need to know about Craig Pawson:
Matches in 2017/18: 10 (7 on TV)
Fourth official appointments in 2017/18: 8
Yellows: 33 Reds: 3

The most famous of their encounters undoubtedly came in November, 1987: a 10-1 home win at Maine Road featuring hat tricks for Paul Stewart, Tony Adcock and David White after Neil McNab grabbed the first goal, while ex-City defender Andy May got the Terriers’ consolation.

Currently on Huddersfield’s books are ex-Cityzens Aaron Mooy and Harry Bunn, neither of whom clocked up a first-team game for MCFC before making their moves to the John Smiths permanent. Those who did play for both include May, Andy Morrison, Martyn Margetson, who is part of the senior England coaching staff, Mancunian Mark Lillis, who had just the one season at City after seven at Town, and Les Chapman, City’s former kit man and now content producer, who managed eight goals in 134 games over five years at Leeds Road.

Assistant Lee Betts was with fourth official Ian Hussin in Braga with Andre Marriner on Europa Cup duty on Thursday, while Craig Pawson was Anthony Taylor’s AAR in Belgium on Champions League duty.